Man-hole chamber for underground electrical conduits



(No Modem l 4 sheets-sheet 1.

M. R. MKLE, JI.

MAN HCLE CHAMBER ECR UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL CCNDUITS.

No. 378,802. Patented Feb. 28,1888.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. R. MUCKLE, J1.

MAN HCLE CHAMBER ECR UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL CONDUITS'.

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Patented Feb. 28, 1888.

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M. R. MUCKLE, J1.

MAN ECLE CEAL/LEER ECR UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL CCNLULTS. No. 378,802. Patented Feb. 28, 18,88'.

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M. RMUGKLB, Jr. MAN HOLE CHAMBER FOR UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL GONDUITS.

Patented Feb. 28, 1888.v

8 his UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

M. RICHARDS MUCKLE, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MANHOLE CHAMBER FOR UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL CONDUITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,802, dated February 28, 1888.

Application led November 23, 1887. Serial No. 255,978. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, M. RICHARDS MUOKLE,

J r., a citizen of the United States, and a resi.

dent of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Man-Hole Chambers for Underground Electrical Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of certain improvements in the man-hole structure for underground electrical conduits shown and described in my application for patent iiled August 26, 1887, Serial No. 247 ,929, the main objects of my present invention being to strengthen the casing of the distributing-chamber, to providefor the proper protection of the wires and connections in said distributingchamber, to facilitate the making of connections, to prevent the access of surface water to the man-hole chamber while work is being carried on therein, and to prevent the accumulation in the distributing-chamber of moisture due to sweating of the metallic casing of said chamber.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a transverse section of a man-hole chamber for underground electrical conduits constructed in accordance with my invention, the chamber being closed. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the chamber open and one of the coverplates of the distributing-chamber removed for permitting access to the wires and connec tions therein. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view through the distributing-chamber of the mann hole structure; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the distributing-chamber with-its coverplates entirely removed,- and showing various connections in said chamber. f

As in the application above referred to, A represents the brick or masonry work, which lines the lower portion of the man-hole chamber of an underground electrical conduit, D being the supporting structure for the manhole cover-plate, and F an intervening casing inclosing a distributing chamber extending completely around the manhole chamber and extending laterally outward therefrom,this casinghaving in its outer wall openings for the reception of various branching conduits, each composed of a' series of tubes confined closely together, four of these conduits being shown in the present instance. It is of great practical importance that the access of moisture to this distributing-chamber shall be absolutely prevented, as there is always more or less naked conducting-surface exposed in the distributing-chamber, and the access of moisture thereto would cause a constant leakage of current.

The inner side of the casing F is open all around, but has at top and bottom projecting ianges a, the upper edge of the lower flange being rounded and the lower edge of the upper flange being beveled, with the bevel to-V ward the inside of the chamber. To each side of the casing is iitted a closing-plate, G, the under face of which is rounded to accord with the rounded upper edge of the lower ange of the casing, while the upper edge of the plate is beveled to correspond with the beveled lower edge of the upper ange thereof, and suitable packinggaskets are interposed between both the upper and lower edges of these closing-plates and the adjacent edges of the flanges of the casing. The meeting corners of the closing-plates are likewise beveled and provided with packing-gaskets, as shown in Fig. 3. To suitable openings formed in the upper flange a of the casing are adapted clamp-bolts b, which are provided with nuts bearing on the outer face of the flange, the clamp-bolts acting upon the inner face of each of the closing-plates at and near the upper edge of the same. It will thus be seen that by tightening the nuts on these clamp-bolts the beveled faces of the closing-plates and of the upper flange of the casing will be drawn firmly together, thus not only insuring a tight joint at that point, but also forcing the closing-plates downward and insuring an equally tight joint at their lower edges, while at the same time the beveled corners of the closing-plates are drawn together, and tight joints thus insured at those points. Having once been applied and properly fastened, these closing-plates will not thereafter be disturbed in the ordinary use of the man-hole chamber, the plates thus forming practically the inner wall of the casing F and constituting the same a boX-girder,which is amply strong enough to withstand any crushing strain to which it may be subjected by reason of heavy loads passing over the top of the structure.

Access to the distributingchamber is had through openings in the closing-plates, which openings are provided with cover-plates I-I,

resting at their lower edges in suitable pockets, c, formed on the closing-plates, the coverplates being secured, under ordinary circumstances, by means of clamps d, carried by bolts which pass through the flanges of the casing F, these clamps being operated by handled nutsf, so that the inner faces of the coverplates may be pressed firmly against the outer faces of the closing-plates around the openings therein, and a tight joint between the two thus maintained. On removing the clamps, however, the cover-plates may be swung downward and outward, the construction providing for the pivoting of said plates at their lower edges, and when the plates are thus depressed, or after the plates have been removed, free access can be had to all parts of the distributing-chamber; or, when access to but one part ot' the same is desired, but one of the plates may be removed, as will be readily understood.

In order to still further protect the distribating-chamber, I insert between the top ofthe casing F and the masonry above the same the upper edge of a protecting-sheet, I, of oil-cloth, rubber, or other water-proof material, which extends completely7 around the man-hole chamber, and when the man-hole is closed hangs down over the closing-plates and their covers, as shown in Fig. l, and prevents the access to said closing-plates and covers of any water that may leal; into the man hole chamber around the cover-plate. 'When the man-hole chamber is open, this protecting-sheetis drawn upward and spread outward above the top of the man-hole, so that it receives and retains any surface water that would otherwise Ilow down the sides of the man-hole chamber and, by wetting the hands or arms of the man making the connections, increase the risk of accident.

In the device described in my former application it was proposed to carry the wires or cables themselves around the distributingchamber from one conduit to another; but in the present device I provide the distributingchamber with a series of conducting-rods, g, suitably supported therein by insulated hangers h, the connections being made between these conducting-rods and the wires where the latter enter the distribntiiig-chamber from the conduit. For instance, in Figs. l and 2 I have shown two wires so connected.

Vhen a line is to be taken 'from the manhole chamber to a neighboring building, I provide the connections between the rods g and the branch line with suitable cut-out plates, i, provided with the usual circuit-closing plugs, on withdrawing which the current is cutoff from the building, the current being re-established on again inserting the plugs. I also provide in each distributing-chamber a converter, M, which is supplied with current from the rods g through the medium of branch wires m on, the inducedl current being carried by wires m to a lamp, K, located in the distributing-ehamber, whereby the proper lighting of the latter is provided for in cases where the natural light is not sufficient.

The distributing-chamber has wood liningstrips similar to those of the chamber shown in my above-mentioned application; but on the inner side of the casing F are formed supporting ribs or lugs n, which prevent the contact ofthe wood lining-strips with the casing, a chamber, s, being thus Vformed between the casing and the wood lining, and openings p being formed in the lower flange a of' the casing, so that any moisture which collects inthe chamber between the easing and its liningsuch, for instance, as might be caused by the sweating of the easing-will flow to the bottom of the casing and escape through these openings into the man-hole chamber, the supporting ribs or lugs being recessed in such manner that moisture can find its way from any portion ofthe casing to one or other of the outlet-openings. (See dotted lines, Fig. 8.)

I do not in this application claim a distributingchamber, extending around the man-hole chamber and having its inner side closed by detachable plates, as this forms part of the subject-matter of a separate application filed by me on the 26th day oiAugust, 1887, Serial No. 247,929.

Vhat I claim in my present application, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isM

l. The combination of the casing of a distributing-chamber, extending around the man hole chamber and communicating with the conduits, with plates closing the openings around the inner side of the casing, said closing-plates having openings provided with detachable cover-plates, all substantially as specified.

l2. The combination of the casing of the distributing-chamber, having an opening around the inner side, closing-plates constructed to form overlapping joints with the casing and with each other, and clamps for drawing these joints together, all substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the casing of the distributing-chamber, having an opening around its inner side, with closing-plates forming a rounding joint at the bottom of said opening and al beveled joint at the top of the same, all substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the distributingchamber, and the closing-plates around the inner side of' the same, with a protecting-sheet extending around the man-hole chamber and secured above the casing of the distributingchamber, whereby it is adapted to cover and protect the closing-plates, all substantially as specified.

5. rlhe combination ofthe casing ofthe distributing-chamber, and closing-plates around the inner side of the saine, with a protectingsheet extending around the man-hole chamber and secured above the casing of the distributing-chamber, said sheet being such. thatit can be drawn up above the mouth of the man-hole chamber, all substantially as specified.

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6. The combination of the casing of the disducting-rods extending around the distributtrbuting-chanlber, the wood lining applied ing-chamber, and cut-outs in the connections thereto, and the intervening drainage-space between the rods of the distributing-chamber 15 having outlet-openings, all substantially as and conductorsin the conduit, allsubstantially 5 specified. as specified.

7. The combinationofthedistributingcham- In testimony whereof Ihavc signed my name ber with conducting-rods supported therein, to this speccation in the presence of two suband providing the means of connection bescribing Witnesses.

tween the conductors of the different conduits, M. RCHARDS MUOKLE, J R. ro all substantially as specified. Witnesses:

8. The combination ofthe distributing-charn- WILLIAM D. CONNER, ber, the conduits, conductors therein, the con- HARRY SMITH. 

